# Carrier Filing

*Last updated: 2026-06-18*

> To make their rates and conditions of carriage legally enforceable against shippers and forwarders, carriers formally submit their tariffs, freight rates, and service terms to a regulatory authority or industry body—a process known as carrier filing.

To make their rates and conditions of carriage legally enforceable against shippers and forwarders, carriers formally submit their tariffs, freight rates, and service terms to a regulatory authority or industry body—a process known as carrier filing. In maritime transport, the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is the primary filing authority; in international air freight, IATA fulfils a comparable role. Filed tariffs become publicly available, ensuring market transparency and preventing discriminatory pricing. A tariff that has not been properly filed lacks legal standing and cannot be enforced in a dispute. Carrier filing differs from a private contract rate in that it applies uniformly to all eligible shippers, not just a single counterparty.

**Source:** [https://www.fmc.gov](https://www.fmc.gov)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Carrier Filing |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 111 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-18 |
| Source | https://www.fmc.gov |

---

*Logistics Glossary — Freight Academy: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/carrier-filing](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/carrier-filing)*

*Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/glossary/en/carrier-filing](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/glossary/en/carrier-filing)*

*JSON summary: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/glossary/carrier-filing/llm-summary?lang=en](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/v1/glossary/carrier-filing/llm-summary?lang=en)*